The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-11-05
Costly Cut-GIass.

Cut-glass comes high. and IL is no
wonder. Down at Corning the other
day saw them making il, and though
the hill-girded village OF the southern
tier is very difficult place To reach
from Syracuse, ] felt repaid for the
hardships Of travel in what | had the
privilege Of seeing. Corning, New
York, Is getting bold advertisements
the world over for this industry. Until
the manufacture of cut glass was be-
gun there several years ago by James
Hoare IL was thought to be as much n
| secret Of foreign art as the making Of
hair-springs for watches. Thomas
Webb. Of London, was the master Of
crystal-cutting, and on the tables Of
half the monarchs Of the old world
his wares have an honorable place.
Nowadays connoisscurs in these things
conccdc that rs fine cutting is done at
Corning m abroad. The importation
Of glass in this form has ceased al
most entirely. Corning happened 10
have glass-works where prime ar
ticle in transparency was made.
That's what took me so far out Of
the world" said Mr. lIoarc, as ho
stood In the midst Of his treasures.
clad in frowsy working blouse. with
his sleeves rolled up. IL is the great
est pride II the celebrated cutter that
no man in the shop can do 80 good
Job as he can himself All his riches
will not take him out Of the realm Of
the buzzing wheels. where the glass IL
going through the cutting process.
There are seven Of these, all Of which
require skilled labor Of high order,
and at none Of which can hurry be
INDUCED. The prismatic intricacies
Of the ware are completed on a variety
Of wheels supplied with sea sand and
dripping water. The most delicate
figures are produced by the employ
mcnt Of wheels Of various sizes. While
/ stood by an artisan was cutting In
relief the crest Of the prince Of Wales
upon a set Of gobIcts ordered by
wealthy AnglomAnIac. The three wayy
plumes in this hcraldiC sign were
brought out with all the effectiveness
of "A cameo under the dainty touch of
the workman Mr.. Iioarc told me
that the lead glass used for cutting
cost him 60 cents pound. There Is
loss Of over 80 per cent. in weight
III DiDuutlHE luf Hul1u'b plf'f llbiu
the uncut vessel. The manufacture Of
this glass is in itself very interesting.
The establishment is entirely distinct.
All the bulbs used in the millions of
electric lamps Of the Edison plants
throughout the world are made at
these works. A small army Of men
were filling orders Of this kind the day
went through At the Corning
works the cruciblcs in which the glass
is smeted are now being made. For
years il was thought necessary 30 i'm
port them, and as IL is their manufac-
ture Is trade by itself Talk about
the mud pies of our childhood, here Ia
where you see the wonderful pranks
of the gutter applied 10 n valuable in
dustry. The wet clay Is kneaded and
mixed in troughs by iaen in bare feet,
who give IL the required consistency
by rcpetitiOns of the process carried
on for whole days. Then the clay is
rolled into strips of about the diam
eter Of bologna sausage. and in the
hands Of mOdclers built little by little
into the desired forms. Each crucible
represents labor worth over 600. They
are left 90 dry in store-room for
eighteen months before being put 10
the fearful test in the furnaces. -Syra-
cuss Stdnddrd.